Former Tamil Nadu BJP leader K Annamalai on Wednesday launched a fresh round of attacks on the Joseph Vijay-led government over its reported decision to outsource lower-level government jobs, accusing it of undermining the recruitment system and questioning whether young aspirants were gradually losing faith in the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC).
The controversy comes amid reports that the Tamil Nadu government has decided to fill lower-level vacancies, including Group IV posts, through the Overseas Manpower Corporation Limited (OMCL), instead of the TNPSC. The reported move has also raised questions over the government's commitment to its pre-election promise on government recruitment.
In a detailed social media post, Annamalai pointed to the declining number of applicants for the TNPSC Group IV examination, arguing that the trend reflected growing concerns among young people about the recruitment process.
According to the figures cited by him, the number of applicants fell from 22.06 lakh in 2022 to 20.37 lakh in 2024 and 13.89 lakh in 2025. The figure has dropped further to 9.80 lakh so far this year, marking a decline of nearly 56 per cent over four years.
Government jobs are the dream of lakhs of young people in Tamil Nadu, Annamalai stated, adding that questions are being raised over whether aspirants are losing faith in the commission that is supposed to turn those dreams into reality.
The leader noted that candidates spend several years preparing for competitive examinations by investing considerable time, effort, and money, yet they frequently encounter uncertainty. He highlighted multiple issues, such as delayed examination results, prolonged appointment waiting periods, transparency concerns, and allegations of irregularities.
Annamalai also referenced past claims that government positions were traded for money, asserting that the involvement of ministers in such controversies has further eroded public trust in the state's hiring framework.
He argued that the sharp drop in applicant numbers should serve as a wake-up call for the administration, urging officials to analyze the underlying causes rather than ignore the trend.
Annamalai called on the Vijay administration to take urgent measures to restore the faith of youth in the TNPSC and the wider public recruitment structure by guaranteeing timely vacancies and absolute transparency in selections.